Firearm Sighting Aid

ABSTRACT

A firearm sighting aid, which includes a planar block of lightweight material, the planar block forming a three-dimensional shape defined by at least a width, a height and a thickness and forming a planar support base, a planar first side and a planar second side, the planar block of material also defining a substantially cylindrical passageway sized and configured to receive at least a portion of a firearm barrel, the cylindrical passageway extending through the planar block between openings at each of the planar first side and planar second side, respectively, and along a longitudinal center axis which is substantially parallel to and offset from a plane occupied by the planar support base.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention pertains to devices and methods for supporting a firearm during sighting and use.

BACKGROUND

Firearms which include a barrel, e.g., rifles and other guns, typically employ a sight affixed to a firing end portion of the firearm, to assist the user in aiming the firearm at a given target. While such sights provide a visual cue to the user to assist in positioning the end of the barrel in the direction of the target, such sights do not assist the user in steadying or supporting the gun itself during sighting. Heavy firearms are known which may be accessorized with support stands, but the known support stands capable of supporting the firing end of the gun barrel are typically cumbersome to use and carry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inventor has developed a small, lightweight sighting aid and gun barrel support device, which is extremely portable, and may be installed and uninstalled in seconds. The device can be used with a wide variety of firearms, and provides a steady support base to assist the user who is sighting the firearm at a target.

Thus, in one aspect of the invention there is provided a firearm sighting aid. The aid comprises a planar block of lightweight material, the planar block forming a three-dimensional shape defined by at least a width, a height and a thickness and forming a planar support base, a planar first side and a planar second side, the planar block of material also defining a substantially cylindrical passageway sized and configured to receive at least a portion of a firearm barrel, the cylindrical passageway extending through the planar block between openings at each of the planar first side and planar second side, respectively, and along a longitudinal center axis which is substantially parallel to and offset from a plane occupied by the planar support base.

In another aspect of the invention, provided is a method of steadying a firearm during use, the method comprising inserting a portion of a firearm barrel through the cylindrical passageway of the device described above, and placing the support base of the device upon a stationary object before firing the firearm.

These and other embodiments, features and advantages of the present invention will be further evident from the ensuing detailed description, including the appended figures and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevated view in perspective of one embodiment of the invention installed upon a firearm.

FIG. 2 is an elevated view in perspective of another embodiment of the invention, prior to installation.

FIG. 3 is a side plan view of a device of the invention illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side plan view of a device of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1.

Like reference indicators are used to refer to like parts described amongst the various figures.

FURTHER DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The shape and size of the device of this invention can vary widely in width, thickness and height. The device may be fabricated from a wide variety of materials, including for example, rubber, plastics, wood, metals, or combinations of any two or more of the foregoing. A preferred fabrication material is a lightweight rubber or foam rubber material. The device may be formed as a single, unitary piece of material, or it may be formed as a plurality of pieces which interlock with one another or are otherwise affixed or adhered to one another, to form a single object capable of functioning as envisioned by this invention.

Examples of implementations of this invention can be seen with reference to the accompanying figures. In particular, FIG. 1 illustrates a firearm F in the form of a rifle, upon which a device 10 of this invention is installed upon a barrel B of firearm F. As can be seen from FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the device 10 is defined by a thickness T, a height H and a width W.

In some embodiments of the invention, and as illustrated in the accompanying figures, the width W of device 10 is greater than height H, and each of width W and height H is greater than thickness T, and the planar support base 12 extends the entire width of the device 10, so that when the firearm barrel B is received in cylindrical passageway 18, the planar support base 12 extends laterally from opposing sides of the firearm barrel B to provide a supporting surface which is detachably affixed to the firearm barrel B during use.

In the embodiment of this invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, the planar block of material which makes up device 10 further defines a groove 19 running the length of the substantially cylindrical passageway 18, groove 19 being sized and configured to receive therethrough at least a portion of a sight (not shown) extending from barrel B. The groove 19 as illustrated is disposed opposite the planar support base 12, since typical positioning of the device will place the planar support base below the barrel and opposite any sight on the top of the firearm. However, althought not illustrated in the drawings, it is also possible to form the groove 19 in the sidewall of the cylindrical passageway at different locations along the circumference of the cylindrical passageway 18's sidewall. For example, one or more additional grooves could also be present at 90 degrees (or other angles) in either direction from the location of groove 19 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, so that the planar support base 12 could be disposed vertically to the left or right of the firearm barrel, and still accommodate the sight in a groove, for a snug but contoured fit between the device of this invention and the barrel.

The device enables users to easily sight a firearm and maintain the barrel in a substantially supported position during sighting and firing. Thus, this invention provides a method of steadying a firearm during use, which method comprise inserting a portion of a firearm barrel through the cylindrical passageway of the device, and placing the support base of the device upon a stationary object before firing the firearm. The insertion is carried out by threading the free end of the barrel through the cylindrical passageway preferably so that the inner wall of the passageway comes into contact with the outer surface of the barrel of the firearm to provide a relatively snug fit between the device and the barrel.

Another way of providing a relatively snug fit between the device and the barrel is to provide passageway 18 of device 10 with a substantially cylindrical tapered wall to accommodate a larger linear portion of a tapered rifle barrel. Other ways of accomplishing a snug fit between device 10 and the rifle barrel should now be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.

While the invention has been described here in the context of specific illustrations, it will be appreciated by those of at least ordinary skill in the art, having the benefit of the present disclosure, that the invention may take various forms and be applied in a variety of ways to aid in sighting during use of a firearm. Accordingly, the invention should not be construed as limited to the particular embodiments described in detail above, but should be considered defined in accordance with the appended claims which follow. 

1. A firearm sighting aid, comprising a planar block of lightweight material, the planar block forming a three-dimensional shape defined by at least a width, a height and a thickness and forming a planar support base, a planar first side and a planar second side, the planar block of material also defining a substantially cylindrical passageway sized and configured to receive at least a portion of a firearm barrel, the cylindrical passageway extending through the planar block between openings at each of the planar first side and planar second side, respectively, and along a longitudinal center axis which is substantially parallel to and offset from a plane occupied by the planar support base.
 2. The firearm sighting aid of claim 1, wherein the planar block of material further defines a groove running the length of the substantially cylindrical passageway, the groove being sized and configured to receive there through at least a portion of a sight extending from the firearm barrel.
 3. The firearm sighting aid of claim 1, wherein the width is greater than the height, and each of the width and the height is greater than the thickness, and the planar support base extends the entire width of the aid, so that when the firearm barrel is received in the cylindrical passageway, the planar support base extends laterally from opposing sides of the firearm barrel to provide a supporting surface which is detachably affixed to the firearm barrel during use.
 4. The firearm sighting aid of any of the foregoing claims, wherein the lightweight material is comprised of a solid foam.
 5. A method of steadying a firearm during use, the method comprising inserting a portion of a firearm barrel through the cylindrical passageway of the device of claim 1, and placing the support base of the device of claim 1 upon a stationary object before firing the firearm. 